Chicago Cubs Minor League Recap: Kevin Alcantara shines

Iowa Cubs (AAA)

The Iowa Cubs beat the St. Paul Saints 13-3 (Game One)

The Iowa Cubs lost to the St. Paul Saints 7-6 (Game Two)

Iowa played two yesterday and while the bats came to play the pitching left a lot to be desired. Ben Brown looked fine but not like the ace he’s looked like before this year and Keegan Thompson continued to struggle with his command. That being said, the offense put up a combined 19 runs in the two games to come out of the day at .500 so it could’ve been worse.

Nelson Velazquez (OF) went a combined 3-for-9 with a double, a home run, a single, two RBI, a run scored and three strikeouts. 

Nick Madrigal (2B) only played in the first game but went 2-for-4 with a triple, a single, a walk and three runs scored. He’s now batting .488 at AAA to remind everyone how different the competition levels are between AAA and the majors. 

Jake Slaughter (3B) only played in the first game as well and he went 2-for-3 with a double, a single, a walk and a run scored. 

Jared Young (1B) went a combined 4-for-8 with a home run, a double, two singles, a walk, five RBI and three runs scored. 

Chase Strumpf (2B) went a combined 3-for-7 with a home run, two singles, four RBI and two runs scored. 

Darius Hill (OF) went a combined 3-for-7 with two doubles, a single, three walks, two RBI and three runs scored. 

Yonathan Perlaza (OF) went a combined 3-for-10 with a double, two singles, two RBI, three runs scored and three strikeouts. 

Keegan Thompson (RHP) was bad. Again. He pitched one inning and gave up four earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three. He may need time at the development complex to work on mechanics because whatever he’s been doing hasn’t been working. His ERA sits at 21.00 through five games.

Brendon Little (LHP) was fine. He went two innings and gave up one run on two hits and struck out one. 

Daniel Palencia (RHP) went one scoreless inning and only gave up one hit while striking out one. 

Codi Heuer (RHP) needs to step it up. Heonly got one of the four batters he faced out, giving up a run on two hits and a walk in the process. 

Ben Brown (RHP) pitched 4.1 innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits while striking out seven. The problem today was his season-high six walks. He’ll look to get that under control next week. 

Tennessee Smokies (AA)

The Tennessee Smokies lost to the Rocket City Trash Pandas 7-6

This game ended in disappointment for the Smokies who took the lead thanks to a four-run 7th inning only to give it back with a four-run bottom of the 8th. There weren’t a ton of noteworthy performances but Pete Crow-Armstrong continued to be a terror to opposing teams and Haydn McGeary looks like a legitimate prospect over the last couple of weeks. 

Pete Crow-Armstrong (OF) went 2-for-4 with two singles, his 14th stolen base of the season and a run scored. 

Owen Caissie (OF) went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored. 

Haydn McGeary (1B) went 2-for-4 with a home run, a single, a walk, three RBI and a run scored. He’s now batting .273 at AA.

BJ Murray (3B) went 3-for-4 with three singles and an RBI, and he now has an impressive .926 OPS at AA.

Porter Hodge (RHP) was the starter yesterday and went three innings and gave up three earned runs on two hits and four walks while striking out five. 

South Bend Cubs (A+)

The South Bend Cubs beat the Lansing Lugnuts 3-1

South Bend has stepped it up in close games lately. They gave up a run in the top of the first inning but went the rest of the game without allowing one after they tied it up in the bottom of the first. The bullpen was great and Kevin Alcantara is starting to dominate the level in a way that we all hoped when he was acquired from the Yankees for Anthony Rizzo. 

James Triantos (2B) went 2-for-3 with two singles, two walks and a run scored.

Bryce Ball (1B) went 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI.

Kevin Alcantara (OF) went 3-for-5 with three singles and an RBI. He’s not hitting for much power, but he’s got his average up to .259 after a rough start to the season. 

Brandon Birdsell (RHP) was the starter yesterday and he went 4.2 innings and only gave up one unearned run on three hits and two walks while striking out four. 

Didier Vargas (LHP) went 1.1 perfect innings with two strikeouts.

Sheldon Reed (RHP) closed out the game with a perfect 9th inning. 

Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A)

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans beat the Augusta GreenJackets 10-2

The Pelicans never trailed yesterday and even after giving up a couple of runs in the bottom of the 8th they added three insurance runs of their own in the top of the 9th to ensure that Augusta would never really make a game out of this one.

Felix Stevens (OF) went 2-for-5 with his 10th home run of the season, a single, two RBI and a run scored.

Ismael Mena (OF) went 2-for-4 with two singles, a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored. 

Reivaj García (3B) went 3-for-5 with a double, two singles and a run scored. 

Parker Chavers (OF) went 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, a walk, five RBI and three runs scored. 

Marino Santy (LHP) started the game and aside from three walks, he pitched well. He went four scoreless innings and only gave up one hit and struck out five. 

Yovanny Cabrera (RHP) went 2.2 scoreless innings and also only gave up one hit but he walked four and struck out three. 

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